DarkStar Academy is where potential mages go to learn the trade of magic. Only those who are potential magic-users may meld with a dragon. There are three intelligent populations in Aeolin-humans, dragons and the distant cousins of dragons who call themselves Flames. They look exactly like dragons except they have a secret society from humans and dragons.

Dragons are very intelligent-they have a long term memory and can do magic. Flames sometimes make friends with humans, but never too many to one person, except if that person is a great magic user. They are very drawn to magic so every student will have at least one flame friend by the time they reach the Academy.

Dragons live in the towns with people, though a special living area must be built. The dragon riders marry, sometimes fellow dragonriders, sometimes not. A dragon and their rider's job is to keep the peace. They also protect against those who may try to use black magic. They are not the primary law enforcement but many times are asked to settle disputes because they can't take sides.

When a dragon is ready to mate they go to the academy, to not affect the townspeople. DarkStar is far away from the fiefs of Aeolin, on the outskirts of DarkStar Mountain.

Dragons and Flames come in six colors, though mutants have been recorded throughout history:

Opals -- The largest of the females, they are about 9 feet in height. They only Meld with females, usually ones with a very high magical ability. They possess day and sunrise magic.

Onyx -- The largest males, about 10 feet in height. Only Meld with males, usually ones with high magical ability. They possess night and sunset magic.

Aquas -- Second largest female, about 8 feet in height. Sometimes fertile but only lay small clutches. Usually only Meld with females, but males are not unheard of as Aqua riders. Riders have slightly higher than average magical ability. They possess water magic.

Coppers -- Second largest male, almost always Melds with males, but there are several female copper riders. Riders have slightly higher than average magical ability. About 9 feet in height. They possess earth and metal magic.

Amethysts -- Smallest females, about seven feet in height. Never fertile and will Meld with both males and females, however, usually the males are homosexual. They possess wind magic.

Garnets -- Smallest males, about 8 feet in height. Both males and females, though the garnet riding females are usually homosexual. They possess fire magic.

Dragons are very traditional in naming. Each name has two parts -- elements, colors, and nature are where names are derived from:
For example: WhiteLight, DarkWave, StarFire

Flames are much the same, but they prefer a single name:
For example: Fyre, Luminous, Violet

Dragon/Flame Magic-both dragons and Flames possess the same type of magic:

Opals -- the magic of light and sunrise, and can control any element during the day. Opals are the most powerful color and they work best in the daytime.

Onyx -- the magic of darkness and sunets-their magic works best at night, and can control any element. The second most powerful color.

Aquas -- water magic. They also control any type of weather involving water, such as rain and snow.

Coppers -- earth and metal magic. They control earthquakes.

Amethysts -- wind magic. They control tornadoes and hurricanes as well.

Garnets -- fire magic. They control any types of fires and flames.

Human magic -- each human possesses a magic of the five elements, with appropriate colors assigned. Each mage may have all or none of the five magics. Goddess magic is undetectable, and only the very few have it, usually black or opal riders.

Wind magic -- pertains to anything in the wind element

Fire magic -- pertains to anything in the fire element

Water magic -- pertains to anything in the water element

Earth magic -- pertains to anything in the earth element

Metal magic -- pertains to anything in the metal element

Goddess magic -- is a power much like that of telekinesis (moving objects with your mind) and telepathy (speaking with your mind). It is only detectable after an Opal or Onyx Melds with their human (usually there is some tell-tale sign. For example, Callista's eyes glow when her emotions run wild or she uses that power. But everyone's sign is different and some don't have a sign at all, you just know because of the dragon they melded with). Opal Flames can also detect it, although no one knows how.